Connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly for connecting a first article to a second article includes a male connector having a first connecting portion that is insertable into a receiving channel defined by a female connector. The female connector is adapted to be located in a first receiving recess formed, in use, in a face of the first article, the first receiving recess optionally having two or more intersecting and parallel blind bores in the face of the first article. Outer ends of the female connector have end portions adapted to engage opposing end faces of the receiving recess. The end portions of the female connector are acted upon by the male connector to be displaced outwardly to engage the opposing ends faces of the first receiving recess when the male connector is inserted into the receiving channel of the female connector.

1 . A connector assembly for connecting a first article to a second article, said connector assembly comprising:
 a female connector defining a receiving channel;   a male connector having a first connecting portion insertable into said receiving channel of said female connector;   said female connector being adapted to be located in a first receiving recess formed in a face of the first article, the first receiving recess comprising at least one blind bore;   wherein outer regions of said female connector include end portions adapted to engage opposing inner faces of the first receiving recess;   said end portions of said female connector configured to be acted upon by said male connector to be displaced outwardly to engage the opposing inner faces of the first receiving recess when said male connector is inserted into said receiving channel of said female connector.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said end portions of said female connector comprise integrally formed cantilevered arms, each having an outer face and an inner face, said inner face of each said cantilevered arm defining a ramped surface engaged by said first connecting portion of said male connector as it is inserted into said receiving channel of said female connector, thereby deflecting said cantilevered arms outwardly against the inner faces of the first receiving recess. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said outer face of each said cantilevered arm is barbed to grip the inner faces of the first receiving recess. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein side surfaces of said female connector are shaped to correspond to the shape of the first receiving recess. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said first connecting portion of said male connector includes ramped end regions adapted to engage said inner faces of said cantilevered arms of said female connector as said male connector is inserted therein. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein opposing inner faces of said receiving channel of said female connector and cooperating outer faces of said first connecting portion of said male connector are provided with cooperating formations to retain said male connector within said female connector when said first connecting portion of said male connector is inserted into-said receiving channel of said female connector. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein inner sides of said receiving channel defined by said female connector comprise a pair of opposing shoulders and narrowed neck region, said first connecting portion of said male connector comprising a central rib extending outwardly from a base region and terminating in a head region, a pair of symmetrically arranged outwardly flared resilient wings having a substantially arrow head shaped cross section extending from said head region towards said base region on either side of said central rib, whereby said resilient wings of said first connecting portion of said male connector are adapted to engage said opposing shoulders of said female connector when said male connector is inserted into said female connector to retain said male connector in engagement with said female connector. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male connector has at least one second connecting portion adapted to be received within at least one second receiving recess formed in a face of the second article, wherein the at least one second receiving recess comprises at least one blind bore formed by a drilling in the face of the second article. 
     
     
         9 . A furniture subassembly comprising:
 a first article and a second article;   a connector assembly for connecting said first and second articles, said connector assembly comprising:   a female connector defining a receiving channel;   a male connector having a first connecting portion insertable into said receiving channel defined by said female connector;   said female connector being adapted to be located in a first receiving recess formed in a face of said first article, said first receiving recess comprising at least one blind bore in said face of said first article;   wherein outer regions of said female connector include end portions adapted to engage opposing inner faces of said first receiving recess;   said end portions of said female connector configured to be acted upon by said male connector to be displaced outwardly to engage said opposing inner faces of said first receiving recess when said male connector is inserted into said receiving channel of said female connector.   
     
     
         10 . The furniture subassembly of  claim 9 , wherein said first receiving recess comprises two or more intersecting and parallel blind bores. 
     
     
         11 . The furniture subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein said blind bores of said first receiving recess have equal radii, the spacing of the centres of said blind bores being less than the radius of each bore. 
     
     
         12 . An article of furniture incorporating the furniture subassembly of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling first and second articles using a connector assembly comprising a male connector having a first connecting portion insertable into a receiving channel defined by a respective female connector, said method comprising the steps of:
 drilling at least one blind bore in the face of the first article to form a first receiving recess;   locating the female connector into said first receiving recess whereby outer portions of the female connector engage opposing inner faces of the receiving recess; and   inserting the first connecting portion of the male connector into the receiving channel of the female connector, whereby the connecting portion of the male connector acts against moveable end portions of the female connector such that the end portions are displaced outwardly to engage opposing inner faces of the first receiving recess to retain the female connector within the first receiving recess.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said forming the first receiving recess comprises drilling two or more intersecting and parallel blind bores in the face of the first article. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the blind bores of the first receiving recess have equal radius, the spacing of the centres of the blind bores being less than the radius of each bore. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 drilling at least one blind bore in a face of the second article to define at least one second receiving recess; and   inserting at least one second connecting portion of the male connector into the at least one second receiving recess to secure the male connector to the second article.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one second connecting portion of the male connector is provided with barbs or other formations adapted to retain the at least one second connecting portion of the male connector within the at least one second receiving recess. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the end portions of the female connector comprise integrally formed cantilevered arms each having an outer face and an inner face, the inner face of each cantilevered arm defining a ramped surface engaged by the first connecting portion of the male connector as it is inserted into the receiving channel of the female connector, thereby deflecting the cantilevered arms outwardly against the end faces of the first receiving recess. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein an outer surface of each cantilevered arm is barbed to grip the end faces of the first receiving recess.